Um, oh hell, I really don't know where this would go, but it's pretty out there so it's in TParanoia for now...
Im sure most of you would have read/heard of/heard bits of the trilogy His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman.
If you havn't read at least the first book in this series, and don't want it ruined, I advise you to stop reading my post as it will be spoilery.
Ok. As you probably know, the main character in the story, Lyra, possesses the instrument known as the Alethiometer. It has three windable hands, a compass-like needle, and 36 symbols. An diagram of one is here, accompanied by a breif explanation:
http://mary.enchanted-seas.net/alethiometer.htm
I would like to build one. I do think it is possible to create some kind of instrument along these lines, but it obviously will not be easy.
Here are my thought so far:
#1: It wouldnt need an actual pocket-watch style one obviously. Something resembling an ouija board would be more realistic. Paper and pen, you know.
#2: 36 symbols accompanied by infinite levels of meaning is painfully elaborate. I was thinking of creating a simplified version, with say, 8 symbols, all of the meanings for which I would determine beforehand. However on further consideration, it makes sense to me that the meanings can't be forcefully assigned, but rather must emerge, or be discovered if you like, in a similar fashion to mathematical axioms and relationships. Therefore creating a "simplified" version would actually leave me with a brand new kind of alethiometer, which would have a more limited vocabulary with which to express itself, and the language of which i would have to work out as I went. Of course, as the "established" model of the alethiometer is in fact, entirely fictional, this may be the case anyway.
#3: In the books, the device is powered by Dust. Well, erm... this clearly poses a problem. According to the books Dust is a particle form of the consciousness of beings. If there is an equivalent in real life, it is more that likely the elusive 'psi', the energy involved in performing feats of the paranormal. I realise I sound like I'm straying into la-la land here, but all of these ideas, however absurd they may appear, make sense to me so bear with me for the sake of interest.
#4: If I am to attempt to build a device akin to Pullman's alethiometer using psi, or any kind of psionic energy or phenomena, then the use of the device would be somewhat similar to the art of pendling, or other forms of dowsing. Some experience or general know-how in dowsing is then obviously advantageous.
#5: The idea of the ouija-board model becomes problematic, because it would require two or more people to drive it. A model with a spinning needle would be great, but then I imagine some sort of telekinetic ability would be necessary as well as dowsing ability.
So, there are a great many problems in my way. The foremost being that I'm being quite exceeding ambitious in attempting to recreate a fictitous device that is far fetched even in its ficticious world. But that won't stop me trying.
So if anyone at all has any ideas, or even wants to say "Good fucking luck you basketcase" drop a post off for me.
If you're still reading by this stage and actually want to impart advice, and/or have experience in dowsing and variants of it, I really need help in these main fields, but of course anything at all is greatly appreciated:
- Can I forcefully assign my own meanings to the symbols, and thus build a simplified device?
- Do you have in idea for a better, easier to use model?
- Do you have helpful tips for dowsing, pendling or even some kind of one-man-ouija technique.
Hoo-boy. Tricky.